Local Information

Cowlitz River Bridge getting a facelift this summer

Bridge painting work begins June 4 with weekday overnight single lane closure

LONGVIEW – Travelers on State Route 432 in Cowlitz County should prepare for overnight delays as work begins to paint the Cowlitz River Bridge east of Longview on Monday, June 4.

Originally built in 1961, the eastbound span of the Cowlitz River Bridge (SR 432), officially named the Harry E. Morgan Bridge, was last painted in 1990. The paint on the steel truss bridge is now flaking and peeling, exposing the metal infrastructure to the elements, which results in rust and corrosion. Repainting the bridge will prolong the life of this vital transportation connection used by approximately 16,400 vehicles each day.

“This bridge painting project is a critical step to protect against future corrosion and preserve the structural integrity of the bridge,” said WSDOT project engineer Joanna Lowrey.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will remove the existing paint and rust on the bridge. Once the old paint is stripped off, crews will clean the steel framework and apply a specialty bridge paint that protects the structure for approximately 20 years.

Construction details

During construction, bridge traffic leaving Longview heading east will be reduced to a single lane overnight Monday through Friday, from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. The Friday lane closure will end at 9 a.m. each Saturday; no work will take place during weekends.

Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2018.

The $3.5 million project was awarded to Liberty Maintenance Inc.

Travelers can get real-time traveler information from the WSDOT mobile app or by visiting the Southwest Region travel advisory page.